Religions Of Man ★🥅 Educational Films from the 1950's - The 1st Telecourse!

Here are 17 episodes, Produced in 1955 by Washington State University (WSU) at the studios of KETC (St. Louis), for broadcast over the N.E.T. network.

"The first college accredited course given on TV in St. Louis, this series features Dr. Huston Smith, associate professor of philosophy at Washington University. A survey of the great living religions of the world and how they influenced human history, the course covers Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity (Protestant and Catholic) and Islam. Lectures trace the start of these religions, their founders and what each teaches as life’s meaning and the way to its fulfillment."

Wow. That is a heavy subject - fraught with meaning. There was so much about the history of religions that I did not know - but that I eagerly learned from this series! This is, to the best of my knowledge, THE First college "Telecourse" ever broadcast in the world!!! (I can't be 100% Sure, because I was awfully young back then, and my memories are a bit fuzzy ....) Despite it being 'damaged, old, educational films: from 1955' ... I Am very glad I had this series moldering underfoot, and was eventually able to share it here with you. I find it highly educational, and I'm sure it still has learning value. The first telecourse, ever, that I know of: is a Golden Oldie still - and not a moldy oldie - it has aged quite well!! The subject matter has not changed since 1955 so this series is still a valuable resource.

NET  🥅 - National Educational Television - was the direct predecessor to the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) ... and to this very day: PBS is still known for producing the highest quality educational and news programming. NET was launched on May 16 1954 by some forward thinking people - who hoped television had a more noble purpose, and destiny, than just being a machine for separating money from slack jawed hypnotized consumers. NET is older than most of us - and the "Grandfather" of all educational television!!!

This is the Oldest Series I have Uploaded, to date - with "Before There Was A USA" being the Second Oldest. Both Series were filmed in 1955 - at the studios of KECT in St. Louis - and are 69 years old! Both are still very educational and those folks should be highly proud of themselves and their legacy of learning that endures to this day.

St. Louis, in 1955, with this Series: was THE VERY START of a continuing tradition of excellence in educational video ... so now you can see what the state of the art in educational television looked like, when it Began ... Sixty Nine Years ago. This was the first time television was explored as an educational medium ... ripe with potential! Remember, this was still 14 years before Sesame Street would be Born ... literally the Very DAWN of Educational Television!!!

I do not believe this "Experiment with Television" was a failure. I learned A LOT from a series extracted from damaged, old, movie films!!!!! This series will still be educating people for at least ANOTHER 69 Years!!!    Well Done!!!!!




All Episodes:

Religions Of Man 01 The Relevance Of The Religions Of Man

Religions Of Man 02 Hinduism 1 Religion In The Hindu View Of Life

Religions Of Man 03 Hinduism 2 The Four Yogas

Religions Of Man 04 Hinduism 3 The Beyond Within

Religions Of Man 05 Buddhism 1 The Man Who Woke Up

Religions Of Man 06 Buddhism 2 The Eight-Fold Path

Religions Of Man 07 Buddhism 3 The Big Raft

Religions Of Man 08 Confucianism The Code Of The Gentleman

Religions Of Man 09 Taoism The Way And Its Power

Religions Of Man 10 Islam 1 The Straight Path

Religions Of Man 11 Islam 2 The Five Pillars

Religions Of Man 12 Judaism 1 The Chosen People

Religions Of Man 13 Judaism 2 The Law

Religions Of Man 14 Christianity 1 Jesus The Anointed

Religions Of Man 15 Christianity 2 The Good News

Religions Of Man 16 Christianity 3 The Vine And The Branches

Religions Of Man 17 A Final Examination


You can download the ★ Entire Series ★ at one time, HERE (9.6 GB): https://archive.org/compress/religions_of_man/formats=MPEG4&file=/religions_of_man.zip



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Copyright Disclaimer
To the best of my knowledge: all NET owned movies passed into the Public Domain years ago.
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Episode Descriptions:

01. The Relevance Of The Religions Of Man
In this first program Dr. Smith presents background and introductory material for the series as a whole.

02. Hinduism I: Religion In The Hindu View Of Life
Discusses the worldly desires of all people--pleasure, wealth, fame, and power--and the ways in which they are related to Hinduism and the caste system. Points out that obtaining these worldly desires is not always satisfying. Explains the symbol of the Hindu view of God.

03. Hinduism II: The Four Yogas
Outlines the four yogas, or paths, to a union with God, and states that individuals should use their own resources to move themselves along these paths. Points out that the material wants or being, awareness, and happiness are only ways to man's deeper desires and that God will answer these needs.

04. Hinduism III: The Beyond Within
Explores the belief of reincarnation as it relates to the ultimate union of the soul of man with God. States that the soul moves through several material worlds--the one we know, several higher, and several lower, depending on how well one has lived in the world of action--on its journey to the final liberation from all material worlds. Reviews Hinduism, stressing that ultimately God is infinite and that salvation is union with God.

05. Buddhism I: The Man Who Woke Up
Tells the story of Buddha and how he grew up to go out alone seeking eternal life. Explains that Buddha accepted the basic principles of Hinduism, but thought them cumbersome and would not abide by rules of social distinction. Relates how, after much hardship and failure, he finally arrived at a position near benevolence and began to preach his simple religion.

06. Buddhism II: The Eight-Fold Path
Illustrates the similarity of Buddhism to the other great religions. Compares a Buddhist approach to life to a doctor's approach to a medical problem. Indicates symptoms, diagnosis, prescription, and treatment. Describes the treatment as concerning itself with knowledge, aspiration, speech, behavior, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and meditation.

07. Buddhism III: The Big Raft
Explains the two main divisions of Buddhism--Hinayana and Mahayana--and the basic causes underlying the division. Surveys the missionary movement of Buddhism and its progress in Japan, resulting in a division called Zen Buddhism, which scorns reason and operates on intuition.

08. Confucianism: The Code Of The Gentleman
Describes the life of Confucius as being that of a teacher and a statesman. Explains that Confucianism grew out of a question concerning how men could learn to live together without destroying each other. Points out that when spontaneous tradition breaks down it must be replaced with deliberate tradition, and reviews how this was done by those teachings called Confucianism.

09. Taoism : The Way And Its Power
Presents the story of Laotzu and his book The Way of Life. Discusses the basic concept of Taoism--creative quietude. Characterizes this belief as one which does not favor competition, but rather allows man to seek his own level with his fellow men and with nature.

10. Islam I: The Straight Path
Presents filmed lecture of Dr. Huston Smith describing the religion founded by Mohammed as one of precision and orderliness in which the believers must submit themselves to God. Points out differences between the Bible and the Koran and tells the story of how Islam and the Koran were formed. Explains the elements of the "straight path" as the way to salvation.

11. Islam II: The Five Pillars
Presents filmed lecture of Dr. Huston Smith outlining the five great religious practices of Islam--a creed, praying, charity, observance of the holy month, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Highlights the teachings in the Koran as they pertain to economics, sex, and the use of force. Notes that Islam is gaining in popularity as a religion.

12. Judaism I: The Chosen People
Surveys Jewish history as it relates to the Jewish religion. Points out the conviction of the Jewish people that every man has the right of justice, purity, and truth, which even the power of kings cannot erase. Discusses belief of the Jews that they are "the chosen people" and must rise above situations since they were elected, not to special privilege, but to special responsibility. Outlines the concept of the Jewish people that even though suffering, they will have learned more deeply the meaning of freedom and justice. Features Dr. Huston Smith, associate professor of philosophy at Washington University.

13. Judaism II: The Law
The law of Judaism is divisible into two groups: ethical and ritualistic law, according to Dr. Smith. He discusses each and explains the Torah and the Ten Commandments of the Jewish faith.

14. Christianity I: Jesus The Anointed
Discusses Christianity not only as ideology, but also as a historical religion, focusing upon Jesus. Surveys the human aspects of Jesus, and contrasts standards of values in the world with the teachings of Christ.

15. Christianity II: The Good News
Reviews the early years of the church when the gospel was spread by a group of ex-fishermen and tentsmen. Points out that "the good news" was not an example of the ethical teachings of Jesus, but was related to the actual experiences of the people. Discusses the concepts of the early disciples as being rooted deep in their experiences concerning incarnation, atonement, and the Trinity.

16. Christianity III: The Vine And The Branches
Explains the three basic symbols of Christianity--the church, the vine and branches, and the body. Diagrams the spread of the three largest Christian groups--Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox--and emphasizes the main beliefs of each of these groups.

17. A Final Examination
This program is a summary and conclusion of the course. Dr. Smith first briefly hits highlights of the major religions. Then he discusses some of the attitudinal changes that may have resulted from the course.

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